Description
Object description
British NCO served with Cyclist Bn, Essex Regt in GB, 1908-1915; served as armourer with Army Service Corps on Western Front and in GB, 1916-1918.
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in GB, 1900-1914: story of enlisting with Cyclist Bn, Essex Regt; reason for volunteering; family background and civilian employment; attitude to service with Volunteers and Territorial Army; story of cyclists being trained at Aldershot during Boer War; description of training with Cyclist Bn; reaction to having to use own bicycle when mobilized, 8/1914; pay and allowances; civilian employment in fitters' shop and as class instructor for Public Board of Guardians; story of first child being born, 2/1914; various memories of Limehouse, London; married and moved to Shenfield, Essex, 1909; story of Territorials being put on standby during Agadir Crisis, 1911; description of taking part in army manoeuvres, 1913; posted to camp in Maldon, Essex, 7/1914; duties counting livestock and assessing food supplies; story of being mobilized, 3/Aug/1914; rank; posted to Bn HQ, Colchester; story of transporting ammunition and equipment in car.
REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period with Essex Regt and Army Service Corps in GB, 8/1914-7/1916: description of guard duties along Essex coast between Bradwell-on-Sea and Burnham-on Crouch; reaction to Lee Enfield rifle being replaced by old carbine; billeted in Colchester; attitude to overseas service; story about company sergeant; story of volunteering as armourer; attitude to being reduced to private; description of training as armourer at Woolwich Barracks, 1915-1916; passed out and regained rank of sergeant; posted to Devonport Dockyard Armoury, 5/1916; duties cleaning rifles and swords in Mayor's Chamber, Plymouth; sailed from Portsmouth to Le Havre, France, 7/1916. Aspects of operation with Army Service Corps on Western Front and in GB, 7/1916-11/1918: posted to salvage depot outside Le Havre; attitude to role as armourer; description of duties inspecting rifles arriving from the battlefield; use of Foden steam wagon to transport rifles; method of ejecting cartridges from breech; attitude to medal awards; story of soldier losing arm after rifle exploded; opinion of other armourer; description of recycling process for live ammunition; use of chests to sink unwanted rifles at sea; attitude to army discipline.
REEL 3 Continues: story of designing improved machine gun belt filler, 1917; description of back injury and medical treatment in GB; story of machine gun belt filler being approved and tested shortly before Armistice, 11/1918; attitude to delay in machine gun belt filler being approved for use; description of various salvaged items.